Why France Wants Hong Kong’s Business

3/27/2013 3:45AM

There are an estimated 16,000 French citizens living in Hong Kong, a number that has doubled since 2006. Arnaud Barthelemy of the French Consul in Hong Kong and Macau talks to the WSJ’s Wei Gu about why the country wants to expand its economic partnership with the Chinese territory.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

I ... the the ... the French community in Hong Kong is Bumi ... the population of French people when making Hong Kong as Apple seems to southern states to something like sixteen solid ... today with the price and to top the French consul general he acted talk to us about why so many French people Ochoa to Hong Kong ... on ... the money ... when I think French people and French companies coming to Hong Kong ... because ... the ongoing enemies of India and ... the image of teaching of these is strong will pm ... and French comes out to people who wait is ... so what kind of French companies come yet ... what I would not surprise me if I can do that ... much ... many of our exports ... to Hong Kong ... up and I side with eight seats forty percent ... of workweeks pulled Hong Kong ... he's nice time today so it's like a leisure a NetApp ... designs that this isn't a line ... of symmetry absentee fashioned notion yet mixed rebounds ... yet when food and sold these to come for forty percent yes we have lots of mayo and tortoises EFY this kind of sad this ... but also I think it's not just that it's also and it seemed to ... and tambourine technology ... to keep absentee forty percent of his ... life side with a TV and things too with ... two when he tells them in China of course ... and and then on top of that week sports yet ... electrical vehicles ... and we have the companies here which are extremely at which have been topics that she's in terms of an engine management and Abby back to BBB ... the green beans beets and all calm ... and weak spots in a tough place to Hong Kong ... and we exposed electric equipment to Hong Kong as well ... the French people wanted to lift me up cause it ... can be says the oncologist said that Japan's ... at also in low tax must be a chalice well the summit attention and ... I think in Chicago Sun who can fall MarketWatch and cheese ... I don't think that's such a big issue ... and to frustrate firms and go to market because the CDs this budget is ... this is really the main drive ... and that is why they come to Hong Kong and his wife to come to the spot of the well because ... if I'm not going to put into that one thing which is important to know ... is that these French firms which have been at TPM ... traded above the Pimco Android and other people in France ... you know ... so we want rent rooms to be as active as possible ... outside of France is fishy here ... the trees with a French economy friends they have yet to be a positive ... image of France ... and talking Chinese and Hong Kong was to go to ... France as well ... I Chinese and Hong Kong law Chinese including Hong Kong people expend as at adding that ... this is the second of the biggest and as she ... and I think that's all palm as people welcome to his two friends ... spend the fifteen hundred year was ... that that had enough and that makes them ... the biggest Spender in front so ... you can imagine them very much when ... in my country ... all the money on an institutional friends ... I was CIC tennis although Wells London recently took a stake of three billion stake in a large French energy company had as examples of Spain is going to get to buy all expertise and Albrecht but your option to write down many examples ... and I think that the Chinese firm's really becoming more and more global ... and then at once they become global been reading the tub footprint in Europe ... which is the biggest market in the world ... this is the first reason why they invest in Europe its biggest market in the second reason ... is that they can acquire brands ... expertise and the countries ... which can be used to embark on their domestic markets to mention to this day she was a major investments ... in a major French ... operation ... the committee of and other investments from Hong Kong ... a can of course mentioned at the hotel ... companies like Edmonton audience will shine with all the top opens the beach and back and the cheap hotels ... in Paris ... then you have a from of course I get that which is designed to was ... that was imports by IA by on going vessels so this trend is I think is just the beginning of Easter and you know ... the Chinese and hope for investments ... outside of China is going to increase ... in the in the coming month these repos to move that's we've been much but come to ... great big a lead techs ... and also actually as Hong Kong than China Gets woman show ... it's not necessary that if a French because ... add to the chalet and Japan's benchmark it's actually tend to do ... pretty well for the friends inside and wait till ...